Recipe converter



Oct. 27, 1970 R B HUBBARD ETAL 3,536,897

RECIPE CONVERTER Filed May 25, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l A WNEYS R. B. HUBBARD ET AL 3,536,897

Oct. 27, 1 970 REC I PE CONVERTER Filed May 23. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,536,897 RECIPE CONVERTER Rosemary Blankenship Hubbard and Allen S. Hubbard 111, both of 8904 Inez Drive, New Orleans, La. 70123 Filed May 23, 1968, Ser. No. 731,390 Int. Cl. G06c 3/00 US. Cl. 23586 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a recipe converter. More particularly, this invention relates to a recipe converter for indicating the amounts of ingredients to be used when serving more or less than is called for by the standard recipe.

It has frequently been a problem to'homemakers and cooks when presented with a recipe setting forth a combination of ingredients and their amounts for preparing a meal, cake, or the like for a number of servings, for example, six, to reduce or increase the ingredient amounts when serving less than or more than the stated number of servings. In most instances, the difficulty in determining the correct amounts to be used in serving more or less than the recipe calls for is compounded by a need to convert from teaspoons to tablespoons, cups to tablespoons, and the like.

Further, in the event that a change is needed in the ingredient amounts at some point during preparation of a reduced or increased recipe in order to provide an additional serving, the homemaker or cook has been presented with the problem of remembering the amount of each ingredient already added and of determining the additional ingredient amounts necessary to increase the recipe as well as of determining the new amounts needed for the ingredients which have not been added.

In either of these cases, the homemaker or cook must multiply or divide the stated recipe ingredients either mentally or on paper and must either remember the revised amounts or record the same on paper. This, how ever, is a time consuming procedure and frequently has caused mistakes in the amounts derived by the homemakers or cooks computations.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a means of easily and quickly converting recipe amounts into multiples or fractions thereof for serving more or less than is called for by a recipe.

It is another object of the invention to provide a. mechanical converter for rapidly converting ingredient amounts to multiple fractions thereof.

It is another object of the invention to provide a recipe converter which is capable of repeated use.

It is another object of the invention to provide a recipe converter which is adapted to be used for any recipe.

Briefly, the invention provides a recipe converter which is constructed of an open housing of rectangular shape with a plurality of movable tapes having indicia representing various related amounts thereon and a fixed scale having numerals representing fractions or multiples of the unit one secured to the housing. Both the indicia of 3,536,897 Patented Oct. 27, 1970 the movable tapes and the numerals of the fixed scale are positioned with respect to each other on a logarithmic scale such that a multiple or fraction of an indicia on a movable tape positioned in alignment with the unit one of the fixed scale corresponds to the numeral representing such multiple or fraction on the fixed scale.

In an embodiment of the invention, the movable tapes are mounted in an endless loop about pairs of aligned rollers in the housing adjacent to the fixed scale so that rapid adjustment of the tapes to the scale can be obtained. Also, to enhance the recording of the revised amounts of a recipe, a pair of fixed scales are used with each scale being disposed on opposite sides of the movable tapes and indicators in the form of threads or etched lines on a transparent plate are mounted across the same numerals of the fixed scales. In this manner, the indicators lie across the surfaces of the movable tapes to accurately indicate the revised ingredient amounts,

The movable tapes are each provided with a scale of amounts ranging from, for example, a small dash to a number of cups. The indicia representing these amounts are arranged in an increasing order and are based on the conversion factors that a dash equals about a teaspoon, three teaspoons equal one tablespoon, and sixteen tablespoons equal one cup.

The fixed scale is based upon the multiple or fraction of the number of servings indicated by a standard recipe with the standard number being represented by the unit one of the fixed scale.

In addition to the fixed scales and movable tapes, the recipe converter includes a recipe recording panel adjacent to the scales. In one embodiment, the panel serves as a surface over which a plurality of removable sheets are secured for recording of a revised recipe. For example, the sheets are arranged with two parallel columns, one for ingredients and one for amounts, each of which has a plurality of boxes which are disposed in substantial alignment with the movable tapes. In use, the ingredients of a recipe are listed in the ingredient column and, after the revised amount of an ingredient is determined by use of a tape and the scales, the revised amount of each ingredient is recorded in the adjacent column.

In order to revise a recipe, for example, to reduce a recipe for serving six to a revised recipe for serving two, i.e. to /3 the original amount, the ingredients of the recipe are first listed on a sheet over the mounting panel of the recipe converter. Next, for the initial ingredient, the standard amount, e.g. one cup, is located on the adjacent movable tape. Then, the tape is moved by means of rotating one of the rollers mounting the tape until the index mark representing one cup is moved into alignment with the unit 1 of the fixed scale. This is indicated by movement of the index mark under the indicator extending over the tapes and fixed scales. Next, since the recipe is being reduced to /3 the original amount, the numeral /3 is located on the fixed scale. Thereafter, a reading is taken on the tape under the /3 mark and corresponding indicator to determine the revised amount which in this case is /3 cup. In the event that the index mark representing one tablespoon is initially positioned under "1 on the fixed scale, then the revised amount indicated by the movable tape would be 1 teaspoon. The revised amount is then entered in the box adjacent the initial ingredient in the amount column. Similar steps are then rapidly carried out for each of the remaining ingredients.

After the recipe has been revised, the sheet on which the revised recipe has been recorded can be removed and, if desired, placed into a suitable receptacle or binder for future use.

In other embodiments, the recipe recording panel can be constructed of a material which can be written on directly and easily erased.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the recipe converter of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a partially broken away front view of the recipe converter of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a tape used within the recipe converter of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the recipe converter is constructed of a housing 11, for example, of rectangular configuration and substantially open construction which includes a recipe recording portion 12 at one end and a conversion table portion 13 at the other end. The housing 11 is constructed of a .pair of elongated pieces 14, 15 forming a supporting base and a top and a pair of stiffeners 16, 17 secured between the elongated pieces 14, 15. In addition, a pair of flat mounting plates 18 are secured on opposite sides of the recipe recording portion 12 for providing a smooth writing surface for a plurality of sheets 19. The sheets 19 are preferably mounted over the plates 18 in a tear-away manner so that recording of a revised recipe on a sheet, the sheet can be easily and quickly removed. The housing 11 also includes two sets of vertically aligned rollers 20 which are freely rotatable on fixed shafts 21 secured between the elongated pieces .14, 15 at each end of the housing 11. The rollers 20 which are mounted at the conversion table end of the housing 11 project slightly from the housing so as to be manually rotated. Also, a pair of scales 22 are fixed to the elongated pieces 14, 15 within the conversion table portion 13. The scales 22 are identical to each other and are provided with numerals indicating multiples and fractions of the unit 1 on a logarithmic scale. The scales 22 are aligned with each other and a series of indicators 23, for example, colored threads, are stretched across the elongated housing pieces 14, 15 to lie over the corresponding scale numerals so as to represent the projection of the numerals.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, an endless tape 24 is 'mounted about each pair of oppositely disposed rollers 20 for movement about the rollers 20 upon rotation of the rollers 20 projecting from the conversion table portion of the housing 11. Each tape 24 is marked with indicia marks to represent a scale of measured amounts, for example, teaspoons 2, tablespoons T, cups C and the like as shown. These indicia marks are arranged on a logarithmic scale to conform with the numerals of the fixed scales 22. The tapes 24 are also disposed under the indicators 23 so as to be easily aligned with the fixed scales 22.

Referring to FIG. 1, each sheet 19 includes lined columns which are headed, for example, by the terms Amounts and Ingredients. Each sheet 19 is designed so that the user of the converter 10 can record the amounts of the specific ingredients of a recipe necessary to prepare a desired quantity for more or less than is called for by the standard recipe. Also, a transparent sheet 25 is laid over the indicators 23 for protecting the indicators 23 against misalignment as well as for viewing of the indicia on the tapes 24.

In operation, in order to reduce a recipe from the standard servings to a less amount, the ingredients of the user records the amount which is located under the numeral /3 of the fixed scale 22, that is, Vs cup, in the Amounts column adjacent the recorded ingredients. Thereafter, for each ingredient which is listed on the sheet 19, a similar operation is performed on the movable tapes 24 adjacent the other Amounts boxes.

In the event that the recipe is to be increased to serve more people than the standard recipe calls for, for example, by doubling the recipe, the standard recipe amounts on each movable tape 24 is moved under the numeral 1. Thereafter, after the ingredients have been recorded in the boxes under Ingredients on the sheets 19 the user looks under the numeral 2 on the fixed scale 22 to determine the increased amounts from the tapes 24 which are to be recorded under the Amounts column on the sheet 19.

Referring to FIG. 4, each tape 24 is provided with indicia marks which are set at accurate positions on the tape with respect to the spacing of the numerals on the fixed scale 22 in the manner of a logarithmic scale. These indicia marks range from a mark representing a small dash through marks indicating teaspoons t, tablespoons T, and cups C in fractional and whole amounts. The marks are positioned according to the conversion factors wherein three teaspoons equal one tablespoon, two tablespoons equal one-eighth cup, and sixteen tablespoons equal one cup.

Referring finally to FIG. 1, it is noted that the recipe converter 10 is constructed in a similar fashion on the front and rear surfaces so that it can be mounted in a convenient place in a kitchen and used by either a righthanded or left-handed person. That is, fixed scales 22 and indicators 23 are mounted on both surfaces for cooperation with the movable tapes 24.

It is also noted that the movable tapes can be rapidly adjusted under the fixed scale so that different standard amounts of different recipes can be quickly positioned for conversion to a greater or less amount when revising a number of standard recipes.

It is also note that the rollers 20 of the converter 10 have flanges 26 which serve to retain the tapes 24 in place. The flanges 26 of the rollers 20 in the conversion table portion also project past the transparent sheets so that a user can conveniently rotate each roller through rotation of the flanges 26. Also, it is noted that suitable washers 27 can be mounted between each pair of adjacent rollers to maintain a spacing between the rollers to thereby avoid any friction between the rollers during relative rotation therebetween.

The housing of the recipe converter can be constructed of any suitable material, such as wood, and the fixed scales can be permanently etched or removably mounted by tapes on the housing. Also, the tapes can be made of any suitable material such as a plastic tape. In addition, it is noted that the receipe converter can be constructed with any suitable number of movable tapes, for example, six, for recording the revised amounts of a recipe which is being increased or decreased.

Further, instead of using mounting plates for removably securing a plurality of paper sheets the mounting plates can be made of any suitable material which can be written on and subsequently erased and provided with similar Amounts and Ingredients columns as above. For example, mounting plates can be made with a plastic surface upon which a pencil or ink recording can be made and subsequently erased.

The invention thus provides a recipe converter which can be conveniently located in a kitchen for immediate use in converting a recipe into greater or less amounts. The recipe converter enables a user to rapidly convert a recipe into different amounts in substantially simultaneous manner so that should a user decide to change the serving proportions at any time during the recording of the proper amounts of ingredients, such can be quickly done by simply looking under the appropriate numerals on the fixed scales representing the revised proportion.

The invention also provides a means of permanently recording revised recipes so that a standard recipe can be converted into a number of revised recipes adapted to serve more or less than the standard recipes is intended to serve.

What is claimed is:

1. A recipe converter for revising a standard recipe comprising a housing having a fixed logarithmic scale of numerals thereon representing fractions and multiples of the unit one, said fixed scale being based upon the fractions and multiples of the number of servings indicated by a standard recipe with the standard number being represented by the unit one of said fixed scale;

a plurality of tapes movably mounted in said housing with respect to said fixed scale, each tape having a scale of indicia thereon representing fractions and multiples of measured amounts, each said scale of indicia being positioned with respect to said fixed scale of numerals such that a multiple or fraction of an indicia on each movable tape positioned in alignment with said unit one on said fixed scale corresponds to the numeral representing said multiple or fraction on said fixed scale; and

at least one indicator fixedly mounted on a portion of said housing and extending transversely from said fixed scale across said movable tapes for aligning the respective numerals and indicia with each other whereby alignment of an index of one of said tapes representing the standard amount of an ingredient of the standard recipe with said unit one of said fixed scale aligns the multiple or fraction of said index with the multiple or fraction, respectively, of the standard recipe required to revise the recipe.

2. A recipe converter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing further includes a pair of shafts fixedly mounted at opposite ends and a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on each said shaft, each pair of opposite disposed rollers having one of said tapes mounted thereon.

3. A recipe converter as set forth in claim 2 wherein each said tape is formed in an endless loop about each said pair of rollers for endless movement therearound with respect to said fixed scale on said housing.

4. A recipe converter as set forth in claim 2 wherein said rollers include flanges thereon supporting said tapes, said flanges of said rollers on one of said shaft projecting out of said housing for rotation of said rollers under a manually applied force.

5. A recipe converter as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a pair of said fixed scales arranged in alignrnent with each other on one surface of said housing and a plurality of indicators disposed across said housing over each pair of identical numerals of said fixed scales.

6. A recipe converter as set forth in claim 5 which further comprises a transparent sheet disposed across said housing over said indicators.

7. A recipe converter as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a plate mounted on said housing for releas- Kably mounting a plurality of paper sheets thereon, each sheet having a plurality of boxes thereon in substantial alignment with said tapes for recording of a revised amount of a recipe ingredient.

:8. A recipe converter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fixed logarithmic scale is duplicated on the opposite surface of said housing and said tapes are endless.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 773,675 11/1904 Powell et a1. 235-71 2,212,161 8/1940 Kirton 235125 X 3,082,946 3/1963 Hicks 235--86 3,281,071 10/1966 Ourran 235-71 3,285,512 11/1966 Reynolds 23571 X 3,436,015 4/1969 Bradford 235--86 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner S. A. WAL, Assistant Examiner "H050 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 569 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,536,897 Dated Eight 2!. 1919 Inventor-(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3 11m 25, before "recording" insert --l.ftar-- Imam 1 M EaL-L'Q 1 1971 JAN. 19,1971

(SEAL) AM Hin Awning Offiw' 

